Shoe pressing machine



April 20,` 1943- KL w. MACDONALD 2,317,151

sHoE PREssING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31. 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l 6@ I i 'il I A ,/43

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y @WwW/11mm wtl 20, 1943. K. w., MACDONALD K 2,317,151

sHoE PREssING mangimi:

Filed Jan. 31.' 1942 :s sheets-sheet 2 20, 1943 K. w. MACDONALD 2,317,151 sHoE PREssING MACHINE VFiled Jan. s1, 1942 3 sheets-sheet :s

08 275 im@ bh/gil J/ 4 x. nu.. 0 1| 9U ull/m L. .WJ s/w I l( ,1` 1w Il Il 4/1 n 5459 a f r 1 2v 7 7 2 n 2/ ,/WwwV/f W M455 7e ,276 J8 7999 4, 7 W 4, LILI lllll @3 a 6 w 4 I a7 al a Sau Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATE 2,317,151 sHoE PEEss'TNG MACHINE Kenneth W. Macdonald, Watertown, Mass., as-

signor to Compo Boston, Mass., a cor Application JanuarySl, 19112,

Shoe Machinery Corporation,

poration of Delaware Serial No. 429,060

8 Claims. (Cl. 12-37) This invention relates to apparatusl for use in the manufacture of footwear, and more particularly to a machine that is generally useful in any operation requiring pressure to be applied to a shoe bottom such as insole molding to a last bottom or form, temporary sole attaching prior to stitching, outsole leveling, shank conforming, and channel laying. It is specifically intended for permanently cement attaching soles to lasted shoe bottoms regardless of the type of shoe construction.

In the cementing of soles to shoes, it is general practice to rough or scour the marginal edge of the flesh side of the sole andalso the overlasted margin of the upper. These roughed surfaces are then coated with cement which is allowed to dry and thereafter a softener is applied to the roughened surface of the sole and/or upper and the two members are brought together and placed in a sole attaching press where a pressure ranging from 50 to 100 pounds per square inch is applied to press the sole to the shoe.

Such high sole attaching pressures are destructive to the sole engaging or pressing pads which are generally inflated With'a uid and the pads become compacted and hard so that they do not conform to the variations lin the shoe bottom, and the tendency is then toy resort to still higher pressures, resulting in a short life of the pad and even damage to the shoe lasts at the toe and heel portions which are engaged by the pressure applying or pressure resisting abutments of the press.

It has been determined that these high pressures are not required and that leather surfaces may properly be bonded by an adhesive with only the slightest pressure if the surfaces are brought into intimate contact.

A general object of this invention is to provide improved sole attaching apparatus for adhesively attaching soles to shoes at considerably reduced attaching pressures and which is simple in construction yet rapid, efficient and economical to operate.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a sole attaching machine having presses with extremely flexible pressing pads which will'r easily conform to the variations in shoes and which are adapted for pneumatic operation at atmospheric pressure, thus greatly reducing Wear and tear and resulting in considerable saving over previous machines having pressure pads operating at pressures of -several atmospheres.

` Another object of thev invention is to provide a sole attaching machine having a series of vacuum operated presses mounted on a rotatable carrier and a single driving motor for operating the vacuum producing means and to rotate the carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sole attaching machine having presses arranged to hold a lasted shoe and its positioned outsole in a last spindle Within a flexible and distortable chamber and having suitable devices for automatically exhausting air from the chamber to cause the atmosphere to distort the chamber and press the sides and top of the chamber into contact with the sole and shoe.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sole attaching machine having a series of presses mounted on an endless carrier, and having suitable driving, stopping, and other mechanisms to present each press in turn at the loading station with its sole engaging pad remote from the shoe pressing position to allow easy unloading and loading of a shoe.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

The machine illustrated preferably comprises a table arranged to rotate about a vertical axis in the form of a stationary column secured t0 the base of the machine. Mounted on the table in a radial arrangement are a series of presses. Each press comprises a base portion or shoe receiving box for holding a lasted shoe in an lnverted position and is provided with a iiexible pad which surrounds the shoe. A form of lid or cover which carries diaphragm is hinged a' flexible sole engaging to the base portion of the press and when the cover is closed the shoe is completely encased within a flexible and distortable chamber. Situated above the presses but not rotatable therewith'is a cam ring arranged to close the covers of the presses as they are moved away from the operating station and to keep same closed during a considerable portion of their travel, and then to allow the covers to open as the presses again approach the operating station.

Located in the base of the machine is a vacuum pump which is connected to the central column about which the carrier rotates, and each press is equipped with a conduit connecting with the :thefcarrier to be freely rotatable about :ing column I5, aboss I'I extending froml the underside of they carrier is adapted to rest on Va `the upper side of the carrier I6 central column and a type of sleeve valve so that air may be exhausted from each press by movement of the valve sleeve which is accomplished automatically as the press leaves the operating station. As the press again approaches the operating station, the valve is again actuated by a stationary cam to disconnect the press from the vacuum pump and open same to the atmosphere. A simple drive hereinafter described is provided for rotating the table and indexing its motion step by step in order to bring each press suc-` cessively into position at the loading station.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be hadto the following detailed description taken'- in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in

which:

Fig. l is a sectional side elevation of a` sole I attaching machine invention taken Fig'. 2,'

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, the direction the presses rotate being indicated by an arrow;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along lines 3 3 of Fig. 1; i Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation on an enlarged scale showing a press after lit has left-the loading station and in the position indicated A on Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine as viewed from the loading station; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the machine taken along lines 6 6 of Fig. 5, -looking'in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a circular base I having secured to its upper side and extending vertically therefrom a series of supporting columns I I to the upper ends embodying features of the substantially along lines t-I of 'of which is secured a circular upper frame casting I2. Thus the base I0 and frame casting I2 are secured together and form a rigidcircular machine frame, and a suitable sheet metal casing I3 is provided to fully enclose same.

I4 is located in the center of the frame vertically extending bearing column A bore To allow the bear- I 6 is securely pressed into the bore.

suitable ball bearing I8 positioned on a ange I3 which is integral with the bearing column I5. To keep the carrier from vertical displacement, the bearing column I has a reduced diameter which provides a shoulder 2I slightlyabove the face of the hub 22 extending from and a plate cam 26` having an extended boss 23 fits over the upper end 20 of the bearing I5 and is clamped to the shoulder 2| by a cap- 24 secured to -the top of lbearing I5 by screws 25.`

Resting on the turret;table -Iii and Aextending :radially from the center thereof are ia seriesof shoe presses 30 secured incorrectly spaced povsiticri by screws 3l. Each .shoe press comprises a lower member or shoe receiving box 32 and an upper or cover member 33 which is hinged to the lower member at 34. The lower'member consists-of a base 35 supporting by webs 3E a lsomewhat oval-shaped ange 3l having a flat upper face to which is secured a-strip 49 of sponge rubber or the like. Disposed withinthe pocket formed by the webs 36 and the flange 3l is a iiexible bag-like diaphragm 38 of rubber or other suitable material which may be molded to conform in a general way to the shape of a lasted shoe. VThe marginal edge of this diaphragm conforms to the contour of the flange 3'I and has a depending rim 39 which .is secured to the peripheral edge of the ange by a clamp strip 40 held to the flange by screws. The diaphragm 38 is preferably thickened as it approaches the exposed portion of a last which toporting the last comprises a block 4I having a counterb'ore to receive the clamping flange 42 of a last jack-pin 43, the lower end of which passes through a hole in the diaphragm and is screwthreaded into a hole passing entirely through the base 35. The'upper or cover member 33 comprises a swinging arm 45 carrying a flange 46 having a flexible diaphragm or sole pressing pad .41 secured to it in the same manner usedto secure the lower diaphragm, thus a box-like enclosure is provided for a lasted shoe having a hinged cover which,;when closed, compresses the sponge rubber strips and forcesrthe marginal edges of the upper and lower diaphragm together to form an air-tight enclosure. l Openizng and closingv 0f the cover 33 is accomplished automatically as the carrier I6v is rotated to bring the presses into an operating or loading position, these movement of the cover being controlled by the stationary cam plate 26 which is provided with a rise, the highest point of which is at the operating or loading station where the carrier is stopped by mechanism hereinafter described. Each press cover is given a bias towards the open position by a leaf spring 50 which is secured at its lower end by a screw 5I to an arm 48 of the lower press member` 32 and is anchored at its upper end to a pin 52 .inserted in the side of the arm 45 of the cover 33. In order to ensure that the cover 33 'will be tightly closed, a pressure device located "on the arm 45 ofthe cover is arranged to react against the cam plate. This pressure Ydevice consists of a boss 55 having a bore in which slides a plunger 56 on top of which is a ball 51, a compression spring 58 serving to press the plunger and ball upwards against a retaining .plate 59 held by screws tothe face of the bossv 55.

The presses are arranged for pneumatic voperation at atmospheric -pressure and to this end pro- -visions are -made to automatically evacuate the air from each press after it has been loadedand the cover closed in order that the atmosphere can press the lower flexible diaphragm into contact .with `the sides of a shoe and into the welt-crease if such a type shoe isbeing processed, and to press the upper pad or diaphragm against the sole of the shoe. Evacuation ofl thepresses is accomplished .by means ofayacuum pump Illv secured to the base I0 and adapted to bedriven continuously during operation of the machine by an lectric motor 6I. The suction part of this vacuum pump is .piped to a reservoir 62 and thence to a Ibore 63 in the bearing -I5 Awhich is provided with ports 64 leading to a distributor chamber 65 formed by recesses cutuinto the bearing I5 and .the bore of the carrier hub 22. To prevent .constant leakage of the atmosphere into the distributor chamber 65, the upper and lower hubs of the carrier are icountenbored to receive sealing rings `66 which 'fit snugly over face oi the ball bearing rier to be rotated without any appreciable leakthe bearing I and also the cam boss 23 and the I8, thus allowing the cars'eat against the face o age. Each press is connected to the distributor -chamber 05 by means of a conduit 10 threaded into the carrier hub 22, and which is connected at its other end to a shut-ofi valve 1| having communication to a threaded bore 12 in the carrier table I5. These shut-oil valves allow any -press to be removed from the carrier withoutl affecting operation of the remaining presses. The threaded bore 12 extends entirely through the table and a second conduit 13 leads from the same to stationary .core 14 of a cylindrical slide valve 15. The core 14 is screw-threaded at its upper end. into a hole 15 in the carrier table I6 which alines with the last jack-pin 43 of the press located directly above and is provided with bores 11 and 18 terminating so as to `form a dividing wall either side oi which are ports 19 and 80 leading from their respective bores to the periphery of the core. The upper bore 13 communicates with a bore 8| provided in the center of the lower portion of the last jack-pin 43 having ports 82 leading to a hole 83 in the block 4|, and when the slide valve 15 which is provided with an interior chamber 84 is held in the upper position by a compression spring 85, as shown in Fig. 4, communication is afforded between the ports 19 and S0, providing a continuous conduit between the distributor chamber 05 and the interior of the press, thus allowing the atmosphere to be evacuated therefrom by the pump 60.

Automatic means for operating the slide valves 15 as the carrier is rotated comprises, providing each valve with a bell crank lever 90 pivoted at 9| to a bracket 92 secured to the underside of the turrent table, the horizontal arm 93 of the bell crank lever being forked to straddle the valve 15 and tted with studs 94 to engage in an annular groove 95 provided in the valve body. A roll 90 is secured to the end face of the vertical arm 91 of the bell crank lever by a stud 58, and as the carrier is rotated to bring a press into the loading station, the roll 96 contacts a stationary cam I93 secured to the frame I2 by screws 94, thus rotating the bell crank counter-clockwise and moving the valve 15 downwards against the bias of the spring 85. rThis downward movement oi the valve 15 exposes the ports 19 and allows the atmosphere to enter the enclosure formed by the press diaphragms 38 and 41, thus balancing the internal and external pressures, and relieving pressure applied to the shoe and sole in the press.

A preferred mechanism for rotating `and indexing the carrier to present each press in turn at the loading station is shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, and comprises a gear housing ||2 secured to the base |0 and having spaced horizontal bores passing through the hubs ||3 and ||4. A friction clutch sleeve H5, having a central bore in which is keyed one end oi a shaft I|6 is journalled in the hub |4 and is confined laterally between the faces of the hub by the rear face of a friction disc ||1 turned integral with 'the sleeve and a collar IIS pinned to the sleeve and also to the shaft IIS.

A iiexible coupling H9 connects the sleeve ||5 to the crank shaft of the vacuum pump 60 which is driven constantly during operation of the machine by the electric motor 6 i, thus the sleeve I I5, and the shaft IIB having its o-pposite end journalled in the hub H3, are constantly rotated. Mounted so as to be `freely rotatable on the shaft IIB is a worm gear |20 having an integral friction disc |2|, and a compression spring |22 mounted on the shaft IIB between ball thrustl bearings |24 and |23 urges the worm gear friction disc |2| into engagement with the driving sleeve friction disc ||1, thus effecting a driving relation to rotate the worm.

A gear |25 arranged for rotation on a vertical axis meshes with the worm |20 and drives a shaft |26 journalled at its upper end in a bearing |21 provided in the fra-me member I2, the shait passing entirely through the frame and a pinion |28 is keyed thereto which meshes with a ring gear |29 secured to the hub I1 of the carrier by screws (not shown). As long as the vacuum pump 60 is in operation and the carrier is not restrained from rotating, the worm |20 due to its frictional engagement with the driving sleeve I5 rotates the gear |25 and shaft |23 causing the pinion |28 to rotate the ring gear |29 and the carrier I6. However, when the carrier is restrained rom rotation by the indexing device later described, the gear |25 is held in a stationary position, and the worm |20 being rotated by frictional engagement with the driver sleeve advances along the shaft I6 due to the helix angle of its thread, compresses the spring |22 and disengages itself from its frictional engagement with the driver sleeve I5.

An indexing detent which serves to restrain rotation of the carrier and lock each press in turn at the loading station is provided in the form o a pin |30 slidably mounted in a vertical bore in a bracket |3| secured to the upper frame member I2. This pin is given an upward bias by the spring |32 interposed between upper frame member |2 and the bottom face of the pin, so that its upper portion is adapted successively to enter each of a series of holes |33 located in a circular track |34 beneath the carrier table and spaced to aline each press at the loading station.

Means for withdrawing the pin |30 to allow the carrier to rotate comprises a foot pedal |40 pivoted at |4| to the base I0 and having hinged thereto by a clevis pin- |42 a rod |43 which is in turn joined at its upper end by a clevis |44 to a plunger |45 slidably mounted in a bore |45 in the bracket |3| and the table I2. rihis plunger |45 is given an upward bias by a spring |46 and pivoted at |41 to its upper end is a latch |48 having secured thereto a leaf spring |49 which engages against the side of the plunger |45 to give the latch a bias toward engaging position with the dog |50 of a lever |5| pivoted at |52 to the bracket |3|. The lever |5I is forked at the end opposite to its pivot |52 to straddle the portion of the bracket supporting the pin |30 and is connected to the latter by a pin |53 which passes through elongated slots |54 cut in the bracket.

Considering the carrier at rest with a pressV at the loading station as shown in Fig. l, a lasted shoe and outsole` assembly is placed in the lower portion of the press with the jack-pin hole located over the pin 43, and the foot pedal is depressed, which causes the latch |48 to engage the dog |50. Further depression of the pedal withdraws the pin |30 from its engagement with the carrier table. Releasing the pin |30 from the table allows the spring |22 to push the worm |20 back into driving relation with the sleeve ||5 and the carrier starts to rotate, causing cam 26 to close the press cover, and thereafter allowing the roll 96 to leave the stationary cam S9 and the valve spring 85 to move the valve 'l5 to its uprnost position, Athereby evacuating the press. v 1

Stoppa-ge of the next press' at'the loading station is'assured even it the Voperator 'continues to depress the pedal Mii. lThis isaccomplished by a series of cams It@ located on the underside oi the carrier which contact the latch 148 and cause it to disengage the dog I'Silthus' releasing the pin i3d which then rides against the face of the circular track under pressureof the spring 32 and is ready to register .with the next hole.

The presses are continuously evacuated as they are carried out of the loading station. However, as a press again nears the station to be unloaded, the valve lil is moved to the cut-.01T position by the cam es allowing the atmosphere to enter and subsequently allowing the press cover to open under the bias of the spring 5B by virtue of the rise in earn 2S.

Since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above processl wit-hout departing from the scope oi the invention, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

.it is also to be understood that the following' claims are intended to cover all of the generic and speciic features of the inventionherein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a shoe pressing machine, the ccmbination comprising a rotatable carrier having a plurality oi shoe pressing' devices thereon each comprising a shoe receiving box having a last supporting member and a cover hinged thereto, a flexible shoe upper receiving diaphragm attached to said member, a flexible sole engaging diaphragm attached to said cover, said diaphragins contacting around a shoe placed therebetween and forming a iieXible shoe enclosing pad when said cover is closed, vacuum producing means common to all of said pressing devices, conduits connecting each of said pads to said vacuum producing means, a valve in each of said conduits movable to positions connecting its associated pad with said vacuum producing means or to the atmosphere, means for driving said carrier to present each pressing device in turn at an operating station, manually controllable means for allowing said ving means to become operative, means for causmg said driving means to become inoperative when pressing device reaches said operating station, means operable by movement of said carrier for closing the covers oi said pressing devices as they move away from said operating' station, means operabie by movement of said carrier for subsequently moving said valves to connect their associated pads with said vacuum pump, means operable by movement of the carrier for returning said valves to disconnect the pads in said pressn ving devices from said vacuum pump and to connect them to the atmosphere as again approach. said operating station, and means operable by movement of the carrier Vfor opening pressing device covers.

2. In a shoe pressing machine,vr the combination comprising a rotatable carrier having a plurality of shoe pressingdevices thereon each comprising a shoe receivingbox having a cover hinged thereto, vacuum producing means co1n-V proach said operating cluding said ring and a shoe receiving i cally causing said driving means to become inoperative when a pressing device reaches said operating station, means dependent upon rotation of said carrier for closing the covers of said pressing devices as they move away from said operating station, means normally biasing lsaid valves for connecting their associated pressing vacuum pump and to connect same to the atmosphere as they again approach said operating station, and means for then opening said pressing device covers.

3. In a shoe pressing machine, the combination comprising, a frame supporting a central bearing column, a table rotatable about said bearing column having secured thereto a plurying a flexible sole-engaging nular cam ring extending centrally around said said ring having a rise at the operating a vacuum pump connected to a chamber formed phere, means for driving said table to present each pressing device in turn at said operating station, manually controllable means for allowing said driving means to ybecome operative,

inoperative to drive said table when a pressing device reaches said operating station, means bistation, and means insaid .engaging members for thereafter allowing said pressing device cov- `ers to open through the movement of said engaging members into said of said biasing means.

rise andthe operation 4. In a shoe 'pressing machine, the combina- !tion comprising, a frame supporting a central bearing column, a. table rotatable about said bearing column having secured thereto a plurality of shoe pressing devicesreach comprising oxhaving a hinged cover carrying a flexible sole engaging diaphragm, Van anring extending centrally around'sald column, said ring having a rise at the operating stationof said machine, cam engaging mem.

a valve in each of saidI diaphragm, an ani bers carried on said covers, in contact with said ring, a vacuum pump connected to a chamber formed in said central bearing column, conduits connecting each of said pressing devices to said chamber, a valve in each of said conduits movable to positions connecting its associated device with said vacuum pump or to the atmosphere, means for driving said table to present each pressing device in turn at said operating station, manually controllable means .for allowing said driving means to become operative to drive said table, means for making said driving means inoperative when a pressing device reaches said operating station, means biasing said covers towards open position, means including said ring and said engaging members for closing the covers of said pressing devices as they move away from said operating station, means normally biased for moving said valves for connecting their associated devices with said vacuum pump after their covers close, an annular cam segment at said station, cams on said valves for contacting said segment, means including said segment and said cams for disconnecting said devices from said vacuum pump and for connecting same to the atmosphere as they approach said operating station, and means including said ring and said engaging members for thereafter allowing said pressing device covers to open through the movement of said engaging members into said rise and the operation of said biasing means.

5. A shoe pressing machine comprising a rotatable carrier, a plurality of shoe receiving boxes mounted on said carrier, each of said boxes including a last supporting member and a cover therefor, a flexible shoe upper receiving diaphragm attached to said member, a exible sole engaging diaphragm attached to said cover, said diaphragms contacting around a shoe placed therebetween and forming a flexible shoe enclosing pad when said cover is closed, means for rotating said carrier for presenting each of said boxes in succession to an operating station, means operable by the rotation of said carrier immediately following the departure of each of said boxes from said station for closing its cover upon its associated member, vacuum producing means, conduits connecting the interior of each of said pads with said producing means, a valve in each of said conduits adjustable to connect its assof ciated pad to said producing means or to atmosphere, means operable by the rotation of said carrier immediately following the closure of a cover upon its associated member for adjusting the valve associated therewith for connecting the pad associated therewith to said producing means, means operable by the movement of said carrier preceding the approach of each of said boxes again to said station, for adjusting its associated valve to disconnect its associated pad from said producing means and to connect same to atmosphere, and means then operable by the movement of said carrier for opening the cover of the box containing the last mentioned pad.

6. A shoe pressing machine comprising a frame supporting a central bearing column, a table rotatable about said column, a plurality of shoe receiving boxes mounted upon said table, each of said boxes including a last supporting mem ber, and a cover therefor, a flexible shoe upper receiving diaphragm attached to said member, a flexible sole engaging diaphragm attached to said cover, said diaphragms contacting around a shoe placed therebetween and forming a iiexible shoe enclosing pad when said cover is closed,

means for rotating said table for presenting said boxes in succession to an operating station, means operable by the rotation of said table immediately following the departure of said boxes from said station for closing said covers, vacuum producing means, conduits connecting the interiors of said pads with said producing means, means including two way valves in said conduits for connecting said pads to said producing means or to the atmosphere, means biased for normally adjusting said valves for connection to said producing means, a circular cam segment at said station, cams on said valves for contacting said segment when said boxes are adjacent said station, means including said segment and said cams for over-riding said biasing means and for disconnecting said pads from said vacuum producing means and for connecting said pads to the atmosphere when said boxes are at said station, and means for thereafter opening said covers.

7. A shoe pressing machine comprising a frame supporting a central bearing column, a table rotatable about said column, a plurality of shoe receiving boxes mounted upon said table, each of said boxes including a last supporting member and a cover therefor, a flexible shoe upper receiving diaphragm attached to said member, a flexible sole engaging diaphragm attached to said cover, said diaphragm contacting around a shoe placed therebetween and forming a iiexible shoe enclosing pad when said cover is closed, means for rotating said table for presenting said boxes in succession to an operating station, an annular cam ring extending centrally around said column, said ring having a rise at said station, cam engaging members carried on said covers, in contact with said ring, means biasing sai-d covers towards open positions, means including said ring and said cams operable by the rotation of said table immediately following the departure of said boxes from said station for closing said covers, vacuum producing means, conduits connecting the interiors of said pads with said producing means, means including two way valves in said conduits for connecting said pads to said producing means or to the atmosphere, means operable by the rotation of said table for adjusting said valves when said boxes have departed from said station for connecting said pads to said producing means and for disconnecting same from the atmosphere and when said boxes are at said station for disconnecting said pads from said producing means and for connecting same to the atmosphere, and means including said cam engaging members, said rise in said ring and said biasing means for opening said covers when said boxes are at said station.

8. A shoe pressing machine comprising a frame supporting a central bearing column, a table rotatable about said column, a plurality of shoe receiving boxes mounted upon said table, each of said boxes including a last supporting member, and a cover therefor, a ilexible shoe upper receiving diaphragm attached to said member, a flexible sole engaging diaphragm attached to said cover, said diaphragms contacting around a shoe placed therebetween and forming a flexible shoe enclosing pad when said cover is closed, means for rotating said table for presenting said boxes in succession to an operating station, an annular cam ring extending centrally around said column, said ring having a rise at said station, cam engaging members carried on said covers, in contact with said ring, lmeans biasing said covers towards open positions, means including said ring and said cams operable by the rotation of said table immediately following the departure of said boxes from said station for closing said covers, vacuum producing means, conduits connecting the interiors of said pads with said producing means, means including two Way valves in said conduits for connecting said pads to said producing means or to the atmosphere, biasing means for normally adjusting said valves for 10 connection to said producing means, a circular cam segment at said station, cams on said valves for contacting said segment when said boxes are adjacent said station, means including said segment and said cams for over-riding said last mentioned biasing means and for disconnecting said pads from said Vacuum producing means and for connecting said pads to the atmosphere when said boxes are at said station, and means including said cam engaging members, said rise in said ring and said rst mentioned biasing means for opening said covers When said boxes are at said station.

' KENNETH W. MACDONALD. 

